Potential Energy
Whenever an object with mass has a spot in a force field.
When you are sleeping, you are using potential energy.
PE = mgh
external image u5l1b1.gif
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/energy/u5l1b1.gif
Kinetic Energy
Whenever an object with mass is in some form of motion with some speed.
KE = (1/2)mv2
I am using kinetic energy when I am running while playing tennis.
external image image003.jpg
http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2002.web.dir/shawna_sastamoinen/Velocity&Kinetic_files/image003.jpg
http://jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/PotentialEnergy/

I would teach this in a very creative way. I would tell people to look up an example of each type of energy. I would tell those people to make a model of the type of energy or make a small skit using it in it.
Mechanical
“Energy of motion or of potential for motion on a macroscopic scale.”
http://www.cpast.org/Articles/fetch.adp?topicnum=27
The mechanic energy in the clock is very complex.
external image gen.gif
http://electron9.phys.utk.edu/phys136d/modules/m8/images/gen.gif
Thermal
"A specialized term that refers to the part of the internal energy of a system which is the total present kinetic energy resulting from the random movements of atoms and molecules."
http://thermalenergy.org/
My house uses thermal energy in the heating system.
external image n_15.jpg
http://www.angliangroup.com/shares/news/n_15.jpg

Chemical
"that part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction"
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chemical%20energy
"Burning of any hydrocarbons such as natural gas or chemicals."
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_example_of_chemical_energy
external image 2.gif
http://www.onimoto.com/images/2.gif

Electromagnetic
a form of energy that is reflected or emitted from objects in the form of electrical and magnetic waves that can travel through space
There are many forms of electromagnetic energy including gamma rays, x rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves and radio waves.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/electromagnetic%20energy
external image wave_props.gif
http://eesc.columbia.edu/courses/ees/slides/climate/wave_props.gif
Acoustic
This next thing is in quotes.
The definition of sound says that it is a disturbance of energy that comes through matter as a wave, but humans perceive sound by the sense of hearing. Our eardrums and the diaphragms of microphones are only moved by the sound pressure motions.


Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_acoustic_energy#ixzz1E2JRhYTp

external image active_liner.jpg
http://www.img.ufl.edu/projectfiles/active_liner.jpg
An acoustic guitar has acoustic energy.
Nuclear
"energy released by reactions within atomic nuclei, as in nuclear fission or fusion."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nuclear%20energy
Nuclear energy can get to be very diffucult and dangerous.
external image NuclearPlant.jpg
http://www.climatechangeconnection.org/Solutions/images/NuclearPlant.jpg
Electrical
"Electrical energy is the presence and flow of an electric charge."
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-electrical-energy.htm
A lamp shows electrical energy.
external image plug.jpg

http://www.sciencecompanion.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/plug.jpg